- Email: [email protected]
384 – Bilingualism and psychosis: A case report
192
ABSTRACTS / Schizophrenia Research 98 (2008) 3–199
mimicking condition a main effect for task (p = .021). No interaction could be detected. Conclusions: Patients demonstrate slower RT than HC. Visual attention is less influenced by distracting stimuli as well as emotional stimuli. Regarding social perception patients with schizophrenia are able to use gaze information in the same way as healthy controls in a motor interference task. Abstract emotional information seems to have less influence than social perception on action generation of patients with schizophrenia. Reference: Zorsi M. Psychonomic bulletin and review. 10, 423–429 (2003). doi:10.1016/j.schres.2007.12.450
Acknowledgement: This material is based upon work financially supported by the National Research Foundation and the Medical Research Council. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2007.12.451
385 – COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE IN HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS ON A COMPUTERIZED NEUROCOGNITIVE BATTERY A. Schreiner 1, M. Kujawa 2, P. Harvey 3, R. Bilder 4, I. Turkoz 2, S. Rodriguez 2, G. Pandina 2,5. 1
384 – BILINGUALISM AND PSYCHOSIS: A CASE REPORT R. Schoeman 1, F. Southwood 2, B. Chiliza 1, R.A. Emsley 1. 1 Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch. Cape Town, South Africa 2 Department of General Linguistics, Faculty of Arts, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa
Presenting Author details: [email protected] PO Box 19010, Tygerberg, 7505 Cape Town, South Africa, Tel.: +27 83 5896988; fax: +27 21 9336159. Background: Several lines of evidence suggest an important link between language and schizophrenia. This is a qualitative report on linguistic, neurocognitive and clinical manifestations in a 27-year-old bilingual male with a first psychotic episode during which he switched from Language 1 (L1) to Language 2 (L2). As far as we are aware, this is the first such report. Methods: A 1-h spontaneous speech sample and video recording was obtained. A structured clinical interview (SCI-PANSS) was conducted in both L1 and L2. A neuropsychological battery (MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery) was administered in L2 (patient's preferred language). Language proficiency was established through language, history fluency (Controlled Oral Word Association Test) and vocabulary (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III). Linguistic error analysis was performed on the utterances made in both languages and a general profile of pragmatic abilities was attained. Results: The subject was more proficient in L1 than in L2. However, he presented with many more psychotic features, including prominent speech and thought disorder, when using L1 during formal, structured clinical interview than when using L2. He also obtained higher scores on the SCI-PANSS in L1, particularly regarding positive symptoms. Verbal learning was less impaired than other cognitive domains. Phonological, morphological, lexical, and syntactic aspects of L1 (Afrikaans) and L2 (English) were features of local dialects. Conclusions: The subject chose L2 in situations which he perceived as performance or outcome-based. This could be due to more diffuse neuronal recruitment while using L2, which could benefit social cognition and enhance retrieval from the semantic system. By using L1, bilingual patients may perpetuate disorganized speech and behavior. This has important clinical and therapeutic implications.
Janssen-Cilag EMEA, Neuss, Germany Ortho-McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs, L.L.C., Titusville, USA 3 Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA 4 David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA 5 Johnson & Johnson, Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Titusville, USA 2
Presenting Author details: [email protected] Raiffeisenstrasse 8, 41470 Neuss, Germany, Tel.: +49 213 7 955153. Background: This study reports data from a computerized cognitive test battery (Cogtest) applied in a control group of healthy volunteers and derives neurocognitive domain scores for future assessment of baseline deficits and cognitive changes associated with treating clinical populations. Methods: A computerized cognitive assessment was performed on a sample of healthy subjects in the United States with education and gender similar to patients from completed studies (treatment-resistant depression, schizophrenia) and stratified by age. Cognitive tests included Workstation Orientation, Auditory Number Sequencing, Object Working Memory, Continuous Performance Tests – Identical Pairs version and Flanker version, Face Memory, Word List Memory, Set Shifting, Strategic Target Detection, Penn's Emotion Acuity and Tapping Speed. Subjects were retested after approximately 4 weeks to assess prior exposure effects and test–retest stability. Results: In total, 124 healthy volunteers were studied with approximately 30 people in each of four age groups (mean age 49.5, range 18–87 years); 51.6% were female. For each test score, T-scores and age-adjusted T-scores were computed. T-scores were combined into domain scores (processing speed, attention-vigilance, reasoning problem solving, working memory, declarative memory and social cognition). A global Neurocognitive Composite Score was computed by averaging relevant T-scores. Age effects were found for most uncorrected T-score values, with expected linear effects at 18–65 years and an additional quadratic component reflecting steeper declines at older ages (N65 years). Overall test–retest reliability was high. Conclusion: The results from this control group of healthy volunteers offer a useful platform for analysis of patient-oriented research studies that use these cognitive tests. Acknowledgement: Supported by Ortho-McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs, L.L.C. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2007.12.452
ABSTRACTS / Schizophrenia Research 98 (2008) 3–199
mimicking condition a main effect for task (p = .021). No interaction could be detected. Conclusions: Patients demonstrate slower RT than HC. Visual attention is less influenced by distracting stimuli as well as emotional stimuli. Regarding social perception patients with schizophrenia are able to use gaze information in the same way as healthy controls in a motor interference task. Abstract emotional information seems to have less influence than social perception on action generation of patients with schizophrenia. Reference: Zorsi M. Psychonomic bulletin and review. 10, 423–429 (2003). doi:10.1016/j.schres.2007.12.450
Acknowledgement: This material is based upon work financially supported by the National Research Foundation and the Medical Research Council. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2007.12.451
385 – COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE IN HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS ON A COMPUTERIZED NEUROCOGNITIVE BATTERY A. Schreiner 1, M. Kujawa 2, P. Harvey 3, R. Bilder 4, I. Turkoz 2, S. Rodriguez 2, G. Pandina 2,5. 1
384 – BILINGUALISM AND PSYCHOSIS: A CASE REPORT R. Schoeman 1, F. Southwood 2, B. Chiliza 1, R.A. Emsley 1. 1 Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch. Cape Town, South Africa 2 Department of General Linguistics, Faculty of Arts, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa
Presenting Author details: [email protected] PO Box 19010, Tygerberg, 7505 Cape Town, South Africa, Tel.: +27 83 5896988; fax: +27 21 9336159. Background: Several lines of evidence suggest an important link between language and schizophrenia. This is a qualitative report on linguistic, neurocognitive and clinical manifestations in a 27-year-old bilingual male with a first psychotic episode during which he switched from Language 1 (L1) to Language 2 (L2). As far as we are aware, this is the first such report. Methods: A 1-h spontaneous speech sample and video recording was obtained. A structured clinical interview (SCI-PANSS) was conducted in both L1 and L2. A neuropsychological battery (MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery) was administered in L2 (patient's preferred language). Language proficiency was established through language, history fluency (Controlled Oral Word Association Test) and vocabulary (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III). Linguistic error analysis was performed on the utterances made in both languages and a general profile of pragmatic abilities was attained. Results: The subject was more proficient in L1 than in L2. However, he presented with many more psychotic features, including prominent speech and thought disorder, when using L1 during formal, structured clinical interview than when using L2. He also obtained higher scores on the SCI-PANSS in L1, particularly regarding positive symptoms. Verbal learning was less impaired than other cognitive domains. Phonological, morphological, lexical, and syntactic aspects of L1 (Afrikaans) and L2 (English) were features of local dialects. Conclusions: The subject chose L2 in situations which he perceived as performance or outcome-based. This could be due to more diffuse neuronal recruitment while using L2, which could benefit social cognition and enhance retrieval from the semantic system. By using L1, bilingual patients may perpetuate disorganized speech and behavior. This has important clinical and therapeutic implications.
Janssen-Cilag EMEA, Neuss, Germany Ortho-McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs, L.L.C., Titusville, USA 3 Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA 4 David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA 5 Johnson & Johnson, Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Titusville, USA 2
Presenting Author details: [email protected] Raiffeisenstrasse 8, 41470 Neuss, Germany, Tel.: +49 213 7 955153. Background: This study reports data from a computerized cognitive test battery (Cogtest) applied in a control group of healthy volunteers and derives neurocognitive domain scores for future assessment of baseline deficits and cognitive changes associated with treating clinical populations. Methods: A computerized cognitive assessment was performed on a sample of healthy subjects in the United States with education and gender similar to patients from completed studies (treatment-resistant depression, schizophrenia) and stratified by age. Cognitive tests included Workstation Orientation, Auditory Number Sequencing, Object Working Memory, Continuous Performance Tests – Identical Pairs version and Flanker version, Face Memory, Word List Memory, Set Shifting, Strategic Target Detection, Penn's Emotion Acuity and Tapping Speed. Subjects were retested after approximately 4 weeks to assess prior exposure effects and test–retest stability. Results: In total, 124 healthy volunteers were studied with approximately 30 people in each of four age groups (mean age 49.5, range 18–87 years); 51.6% were female. For each test score, T-scores and age-adjusted T-scores were computed. T-scores were combined into domain scores (processing speed, attention-vigilance, reasoning problem solving, working memory, declarative memory and social cognition). A global Neurocognitive Composite Score was computed by averaging relevant T-scores. Age effects were found for most uncorrected T-score values, with expected linear effects at 18–65 years and an additional quadratic component reflecting steeper declines at older ages (N65 years). Overall test–retest reliability was high. Conclusion: The results from this control group of healthy volunteers offer a useful platform for analysis of patient-oriented research studies that use these cognitive tests. Acknowledgement: Supported by Ortho-McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs, L.L.C. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2007.12.452